Surprising Habits that Could Damage Your Teeth

When you think about the habits that might be detrimental to your oral health, certain things might come to mind immediately. Some of these may include indulging your sweet tooth too much, smoking or procrastinating on scheduling your routine appointments with your dentist. However, you may have some less obvious habits that you don’t even realize you’re doing.

Brushing too hard or too long

Brushing is good, so there’s never too much of a good thing, right? Wrong. If you brush too vigorously, you can damage your gum tissue and even cause your gums to recede. Also, two minutes seems to be the sweet spot for brushing. Any longer than that and you get diminishing returns.

Using your teeth as a tool

Never use your teeth to open a package, or (gasp!) a bottle. Similarly, you shouldn’t chew on things that are not food. Take note, you nail biters or ice crunchers.

Skimping on water

If you have a soda habit, of course it can harm your smile but not just because of the sugar factor. Choosing soda instead of water can limit your hydration, which in turn can restrict your saliva production. Saliva is important to your oral health because it washes away harmful oral bacteria. When it is limited, those bacteria can proliferate, increasing your risk for cavities and gum disease.

Grinding your teeth

You may not even be aware that you have this habit, but grinding your teeth can cause your teeth to wear down prematurely. Your dentist may notice signs of this and recommend a mouthguard to be worn at night. Stress is often a contributing factor, so stress management techniques may also be helpful.

Consuming too many acidic foods/beverages

Sugary snacks aren’t the only items in your diet that may damage your teeth. Excessive intake of acidic foods and drinks can damage the enamel in your teeth, and this category can include healthy foods like oranges and tomatoes.

Of course, your oral hygiene routine is another important element of maintaining a healthy smile, so even if you kick those less obvious bad habits to the curb, brushing and flossing should be the centerpiece of your efforts to keep your teeth and gums in good shape. At the same time, you should be sure to see your dentist at least twice a year for professional cleanings and exams so that any potential problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.

Are you overdue for your cleaning appointment? Contact our team at Aesthetic Dental Partners today to schedule an appointment!